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Bequests, gifts, and education: links between intergenerational transfers

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  • Katarina Nordblom
  • Henry Ohlsson

Abstract

We study the motives behind parents’ transfers to their children, and the relationship between tangible transfers and educational investments. Another issue is the channels parents choose for tangible transfers. Do they use bequests and inter vivos gifts as substitutes or complements? We use a recent Swedish data set. It is superior to previously used data as it has information on both inheritances and gifts received. Our empirical analysis gives some support for parents having altruistic motive for their transfers. We also find evidence that parents use bequest and gifts as substitutes.
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  • Katarina Nordblom & Henry Ohlsson, 2011. "Bequests, gifts, and education: links between intergenerational transfers," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 343-358, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:40:y:2011:i:2:p:343-358
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-010-0344-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Korom, Philipp, 2016. "Inherited advantage: The importance of inheritance for private wealth accumulation in Europe," MPIfG Discussion Paper 16/11, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    2. Stefanie Stantcheva, 2015. "Optimal Income, Education, and Bequest Taxes in an Intergenerational Model," NBER Working Papers 21177, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Niimi, Yoko & Horioka, Charles Yuji, 2016. "The Impact of Intergenerational Transfers on Household Wealth Inequality in Japan and the United States," AGI Working Paper Series 2016-20, Asian Growth Research Institute.
    4. Alonso-Carrera, Jaime & Caballé, Jordi & Raurich, Xavier, 2012. "Fiscal policy, composition of intergenerational transfers, and income distribution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 62-84.
    5. Sanna Nivakoski, 2015. "The Exchange Motive in Intergenerational Transfers," Working Papers 201510, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    6. Suhaili Alma’amun & Mohd Khairy Kamarudin & Mehmet Asutay, 2016. "Motivations of Inter Vivos Transfers Among Malaysian Muslims," EuroEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 3(12), pages 149-162, JUNE.
    7. Suhaili Alma’amun & Mohd Khairy Kamarudin & Mehmet Asutay, 2016. "Motivations of Inter Vivos Transfers Among Malaysian Muslims," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 12(3), pages 149-162, JUNE.
    8. Jordi Caballé, 2016. "Intergenerational mobility: measurement and the role of borrowing constraints and inherited tastes," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 7(4), pages 393-420, November.
    9. Günther Fink & Silvia Redaelli, 2005. "Understanding Bequest Motives An Empirical Analysis of Intergenerational Transfers," DNB Working Papers 042, Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department.
    10. Nordblom, Katarina & Ohlsson, Henry, 2006. "Tax avoidance and intra-family transfers," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(8-9), pages 1669-1680, September.
    11. Juan Mora & Ana Moro-Egido, 2012. "Analyzing motives for money-transfers within families: the role of transfers for education," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 357-378, August.
    12. Sanna Nivakoski, 2019. "Does the exchange motive influence intergenerational transfers? Evidence from Ireland," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1049-1079, September.
    13. Loren Brandt & Aloysius Siow & Hui Wang, 2015. "Compensating for unequal parental investments in schooling," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 28(2), pages 423-462, April.
    14. Juan M. Villa, 2014. "The length of exposure to antipoverty transfer programmes: what is the relevance for children's human capital formation?," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 20614, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    15. Dongxu Wu & Zhongmin Wu, 2015. "Intergenerational links, gender differences, and determinants of self-employment," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 42(3), pages 400-414, August.
    16. Peter Mooslechner & Martin Sch rz & Pirmin Fessler, 2008. "How Inheritances Relate to Wealth Distribution? Theoretical Reasoning and Empirical Evidence on the Basis of LWS Data," LWS Working papers 6, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bequests; Inheritances; Inter vivos gifts; Education; Altruism; D10; D64; D91;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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